on for the remainder of breakfast-time became general.

He wrote immediately to his two old messmates, begging them to come at
once, and telling them of his appointment to the _Plantagenet_. Much to
his regret, and possibly to that of his sisters, who were curious to see
into what sort of persons the young midshipmen had grown, they could
neither of them immediately avail themselves of his invitation. They
congratulated him on his good luck, and said that as their friends were
exerting their interest to get them afloat it was possible that they
might ere long meet again, though as they were of the same standing in
the service they could not hope all to be appointed to one ship. Alick
Murray wrote from Scotland. He had taken under his wing a young orphan
cousin, Archy Gordon, who longed to go to sea. Alick said that his
great wish was to have the lad with him, should he get a ship, "if not,"
he added, "I shall be thoroughly satisfied to have him with either you
or Adair, as I am sure that you will both stand his friend in case of
need, and keep an eye on him at all times."

"Of course I will," said Jack to himself. "Murray's friends must always
be my friends, and those he cares for I must care for; however, I hope
that he will not be allowed to rust long on shore; little chance of it
when once he has made himself known."

Adair was in Ireland. "Things are not quite so bad as I expected to
find them in the halls of my ancestors," he wrote. "Although the estate
with its thousands of acres of forest and bog was knocked down as I told
you, the old castle of Ballymacree, with a few dirty acres surrounding
it, was bought back again, and still serves as a residence for my father
and mother, and the best part of a score of my brothers and sisters, and
the wives and husbands and children of the elder ones--a pretty large
party we make, you may fancy. I felt myself quite lost at first among
them all, and the noise and confusion which prevailed after the quiet
and regularity of a man-of-war quite confounded me; however, I have got
accustomed to it now, and can join heartily in the fun and frolic which
goes on from morning till night, and considering my bashful and retiring
disposition, this will show you that I feel myself at home and perfectly
happy."

"I said so," exclaimed Jack triumphantly, showing the letter to his
sisters; "I told you what a quiet, sedate fellow Terence has become, and
here is proof of it. Let us